Analysis: Retaining Swansea City stars more crucial than new signings

Such is the fast-moving world of the Premier League, it already seems like a lifetime ago.So, although the locks have been secured on the transfer window for another few months, it won’t be long before the circus starts up again.

Such is the fast-moving world of the Premier League, it already seems like a lifetime ago.

So, although the locks have been secured on the transfer window for another few months, it won’t be long before the circus starts up again.

It’s fair to say the days of summer shopping were eventful ones for Swansea City.

There are plenty who claim that the Liberty Stadium club have come out of the sunny months of speculation, spending and selling in the best light.

Many pundits have been quick to claim that Michu is the buy of the close-season – and even if he couldn’t add to his tally at Villa Park, his performance on top of the four goals from four games already representing a cut-price £500,000 a goal makes it difficult to argue.

And those au fait with Spanish football say that the arrival of Pablo Hernandez is only going to add to the excitement around this Swansea side.

He looked quick-footed and nimble in his substitute appearance in the West Midlands even if he couldn’t affect the eventual scoreline.

Then there’s Ki Sung-Yueng who certainly looked a midfielder of real ability in a tempo that suited him against Sunderland after coming off the bench, one assuming that the lengthy travels of his international duty with South Korea in Uzbekistan ruled him out against Aston Villa.

All that plus more – around £16m in total – within budget. It’s all a far cry from Paul Connor’s signing in 2004 when the buy from Rochdale caused quite a stir because the £35,000 fee was the first transfer cash paid by the club in five years.

Swansea are operating in vastly different circles, as was outlined by the money coming in for the two players sold during August in Joe Allen and Scott Sinclair, figures that effectively paid for the club’s shopping and then some.

Not that the club wanted to post a profit by losing two key men, certainly not in Allen’s case anyway.

And while the players coming in will always catch the eye, not having more go out is perhaps the greater success story for Swansea. Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, and Michel Vorm will all have attracted interest, same too Nathan Dyer, no doubt the talk of boardrooms as wish-lists were drawn up even if formal approaches may not have materialised.

And, while the wheeling and dealing goes on hold until January, Swansea will be aware that the danger of departures is always there, the threat of a mega-money offer never too far away.

It is why opening talks over new deals for Wales pair Williams and Taylor and Vorm is as important as any new signing.

And you could guess there will be others to follow suit soon, Swansea keen to avoid the scenario that forced their hand regarding Sinclair.

Contracts do not mean there is any guarantee of clubs holding onto players when the bids come, but they do offer a degree of security at getting top and fair price for prized assets, enough to scare suitors off. And they can also ensure there is no agitating for moves away for the sake of it on the players’ behalf.

In return, Swansea have to reward the players in terms of wages. Not to suddenly rip up the careful prudence that has served them so well, but to ensure top performers are brought into line with the kind of pay packets you would assume the two record buys have been promised.

You would imagine it will not be a sudden departure from the sensible salary structure in place; it is believed one of the reasons there was an impasse over new terms for Sinclair was that he was asking for too much, although you wonder if he had any intention of a compromise once the champions fluttered their Etihad-bankrolled eyelashes.

There are encouraging vibes regarding all three regarding the long-term deals being prepared. Taylor is believed to have verbally agreed a four-year deal, and you would imagine the club will move quickly to discuss futures with several other frontline men sooner rather than later.

Moving to sort contracts before they need to be sorted protects both player and club, ensuring that any offer has to reflect the tie-up in place. It is difficult to find fault. Get those signatures in ink and on paper and it will be as important as any transfer window signing.

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